Desert Messenger

June 15, 2016 www.DesertMessenger.com 15 Help dogs in hot cars this summer Monsoon Awareness week information Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has proclaimed June 12-17 Monsoon Awareness Week in Arizona in an- ticipation of the 2016 monsoon and summer severe weather season. Arizona's most active weather season is the monsoon, which be- gins in mid-June and ends in late September. The monsoon is characterized not only by extreme heat like parts of the state experienced last weekend, but also an increase in moisture, which drives the humid- ity up. These conditions can produce massive thunderstorms, including heavy rain, high winds and light- ning and potentially trigger dust storms, flash floods and wildfires. Between the extreme heat and threat of flash flooding, summers in Arizona can be dangerous, even life-threatening for uninformed people. Know the signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. People over 65, children under 5 and those with pre-existing medi- cal conditions are at high risk for heat-related illnesses. Reduce exposure to the sun and heat during peak hours. When it does rain, do not under- estimate the power of water. Never drive into a flooded wash or road. It only takes 6 inches of water to stall your vehicle and 12 inches to float it. "Monsoon storms can cause seri- ous personal injury and property damage," said Wendy Smith- Reeve, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs deputy director. "I strongly en- courage the whole community to take the necessary steps to prepare themselves, their family, and prop- erty." DEMA has partnered with the Na- tional Weather Service; the Arizona departments of health services, homeland security, insurance, public safety, transportation and water resources; and The Salvation Army to advocate severe weather preparedness. Arizonans are encouraged to take the following actions in prepara- tion for the monsoon: •Plan: Write a communication plan. The plan should identify a family meeting place, evacuation routes away from the house, and an out-of-town contact. Practice the plan with your family. •Prepare: Assemble an emergency supplies kit with enough non-per- ishable food and potable water to last your family, including pets, for 72 hours. Include a first aid kit, radio, flash- light, batteries, cash, cell phone charger and copies of important documents. •Inquire: Know what hazards threaten your community. Ask your work and child's school about their emergency plans. Bookmark EIN. az.gov for emergency updates and preparedness information. •Inspire: Be a preparedness exam- ple to your community. Give blood, learn first aid, volun- teer, and talk to others about what you have learned about prepared- ness. Visit the Arizona Emergency Infor- mation Network for official emer- gency updates, preparedness and hazard information, and multime- dia resources. How to (Legally) Help Dogs in Hot Cars This Summer Tips from the Animal Legal Defense Fund As summer approaches and tem- peratures rise, the danger of pets dying because negligent owners left them in a hot car grows as well. Even on a day when it's 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car with all the windows closed can hit 90 degrees in just 10 minutes. On a hot day, the temperature inside a closed car can shoot as high as 116 degrees in the same amount of time. What can you do, within your legal rights, if you see an animal in dis- tress in a locked car? The Animal Legal Defense Fund, the nation's preeminent legal advocacy organi- zation for animals, has some tips. If you see an animal in distress, call 911. Most states allow a public safety officer to break into the car and rescue an animal if its life is threat- ened. Calling 911 is the first step to saving that animal's life. Know your state laws. More and more states are adopting "hot car" laws that prohibit leaving a companion animal unattended in a parked vehicle, with six enacted in just the last two years and two more pending. Although 20 states have some form of "hot car" laws, the laws differ drastically from place to place: • Only two states—Wisconsin and Tennessee—have "good Samaritan" laws that allow any person to break a car window to save a pet. • In 16 states, only public officials such as law enforcement and hu- mane officers can legally break into a car to rescue an animal (Arizona, California. Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Caro- lina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington) • In New Jersey and West Virginia, no one has the authority to break into a vehicle to save an animal, not even law enforcement. • Legislation is pending in Florida and New York to give would give any concerned bystander the legal right to help an animal in distress. Pending legislation in Pennsylvania would make it illegal to confine a dog or cat in a vehicle in conditions that would jeopardize its health but only a police, public safety, or hu- mane officer would have the legal right to rescue the animal. Penalties for hot car deaths of companion animals are still lim- ited. Most states limit penalties to misdemeanors or civil fines and infractions, even for repeat offend- ers. Maine and South Dakota's laws don't impose a penalty at all. Let people know it's not okay to leave their pet unattended in a car. When an animal dies in a hot car, most of their humans say they left them "just for a minute." If you see someone leave their pet in a parked car, tell them that even if it's a pleas- ant day outside, the temperature inside the car can skyrocket fast. Cracking a window doesn't elimi- nate the risk of heatstroke or death. Get the message out with an ALDF sunshade The Animal Legal Defense Fund has created sunshades that remind pet owners of the risks of leaving animals unattended in a car. The sunshades feature the message, "Warning: Don't leave dogs in hot cars," in lettering large enough to be readable from across a parking lot. They also urge people to call 911 if they find animals locked in a car and in distress. The sunshades are available aldf.org/sunshade for $20 each and all proceeds benefit ALDF. To order visit aldf.org.

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